Imported cars and SME impact
Deputy Brassil questioned the effect of rising UK car imports on Irish dealerships and SMEs. The Taoiseach said the trend was mainly due to sterling weakness and that Government had no specific remedy at present.
In the programme for Government a specific commitment was given to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Ireland. The volume of imported cars from the UK has risen from 45,000 in 2015 to 69,000 in 2016 and will reach a projected 92,000 in 2017. In other words, there has been a 100% increase from 2015 to 2017. This is having a significant effect on the second-hand car market and a knock-on effect on the new car market. What are the Taoiseach and, in particular, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, doing to combat this serious issue?
Comment on this
This largely relates to current currency fluctuations. That is why more people are importing cars from the UK rather than purchasing them here in Ireland. We have no specific proposals to deal with it at present. Currency fluctuations between sterling and euro, unfortunately, are beyond the control of Government.
If the Deputy or the motor industry have specific proposals in mind, we would be happy to examine them.